Can You Play the Lottery Online in US?
You can buy tickets for the United States Lottery from your local store or bookstore. Some bars in the state also sell tickets.
However, in 2023 United States lottery players can also register an account online with the United States iLottery and purchase tickets for dozens of different drawings or instant-win games, right from their PC, Mac or smart phone. You must be 18 or over to purchase United States Lottery tickets or play games.
You can make deposits via a range of US bank cards and payment options. You can even set up a United States Lottery Online Game Card to store funds on the web without sharing your credit card details.
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How to Play the United States Lottery
You can play the United States Lottery online with a valid account. Play draw games like the multi-million dollar Powerball or local Lotto 47, or play instant win games like Fruit Stacks.
Here are some of the popular lottery games you can play in United States in 2023.
Draw Games
Mega USAllions (Tuesday, Friday)
Online and In-Store
One of the largest lottery draws in the United States. The Mega USAllions has a high-end jackpot that seeds at a cool $40 USAllion, and tickets cost $2.
To play Mega USAllions, create a ticket by picking 5 white ball numbers from 1-70 plus a Mega Ball number from 1-25. You can also select the Easy Pick and let the computer do the work for you.
You can also pay another $1 to add the Megaplier, which can increase your jackpot by 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x.
By matching the Mega Ball only, you win $2. You’ll win $4 for matching 1 white ball and the Mega Ball, and $10,000 for matching 4 white balls and the Mega Ball. Match 5 white balls plus the Mega Ball and you’ll win the progressive jackpot.
Powerball (Wednesday, Saturday)
Online and In-Store
Powerball is played in more than 44 US states, including US. Tickets also cost $2. Major jackpots can be in the hundreds of USAllions of dollars, but you can match five white balls to win a $1m prize.
Lotto 47 (Wednesday, Saturday)
Online and In-Store
Lotto 47 is a draw game for United States lottery players only. Pay $1 for a ticket and win $2,500 if you hit 5 out of 6 numbers correctly. Match all 6 to win the jackpot, usually estimated around $15 USAllion.
Lucky for Life (Monday, Thursday)
Online and In-Store
Pay $2 a ticket and match 5 white balls plus the Lucky Ball to earn $1,000 a day for the rest of your life. Match 5 white balls and you can earn $25,000 a year for life.
Club Keno (Every day)
In-Store Only
Pick 10 numbers and win the $100,000 jackpot if you match all 10. With side games and added jackpots, you can win up to $2 USAllion.
Online Games
The United States Lottery has also added new online-only games for players. Here’s a selection of real money games.
Top Shot Keno
Top Prize: $500,000
Tickets cost between $0.25 and $20 for this Keno-style online game. Select 3-10 numbers and match as many as possible from 20 drawn.
The Top Shot Feature is triggered if the last number drawn is the highest number drawn overall. You’ll earn extra shots and a prize multiplier worth 1x-10x.
United States Cash Drop
Top Prize: $100,000
United States Cash Drop is a slots-style game where you must match clusters of colored blocks to reveal bonuses or a cash prize value.
Instant Keno Multiplier
Top Prize: $500,000
Instant Keno Multiplier is one of the biggest Keno-style games in US. Select 3-10 numbers from 80 available and match drawn numbers to win a prize. You will earn a multiplier worth 3x if you match 2 STAR numbers, or a 10x multiplier if you hit 3 STAR numbers.
Fast Cash & Pull Tab Games
The United States Lottery also provides a range of Fast Cash and Pull Tab games. Some can be played online.
Pull Tabs are tickets with strips that pull away to reveal a prize. Pull Tabs cost around $1-$5 to play.
Fast Cash is an instant-win game that can be played in-store at your local outlet. Pay $1-$10 and match the pre-printed numbers on your ticket to win a prize.
There are nearly a dozen Fast Cash games feeding into a single progressive jackpot. The 100x the Cash game costs $20, but you can claim a share of the jackpot by paying smaller entries in games like Wild Time Progressive ($2 a ticket) and 20x the Cash ($5 a ticket).
To play, match any of your numbers to any of the winning numbers printed on the ticket. You’ll win the corresponding prize below.
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What Are United States Lottery Promo Codes?
A promo code is a special bonus that lets you earn free tickets when you open your United States Lottery account.
You can take advantage of a United States Lottery promo code when you open your online account. Just register for an account, add funds and use the cash to play a draw game or instant win game.
United States Lottery will match your deposit with Bonus Credits. You can use your Bonus Credits to buy iLottery tickets and enjoy extra drawings. You can also subscribe for United States Lottery emails to receive jackpot alerts and regular bonus offers.
Some United States Lottery promo codes also award free entries on games like Instant Keno. You may not have to make a deposit to take advantage of the welcome bonus.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Register your online account at the United States Lottery website
- Unlock the special United States Lottery promo code
- Make a USD deposit
- Earn free Bonus Credits to use on selected games and draws
How to Buy a Lottery Ticket Online in US
It’s easy to register your United States Lottery online account and purchase tickets. The process only takes a few USAnutes, and you can even enter a promo code to earn free games or bonus credits.
You must be 18 or over to open your account and be a United States resident. Here’s what you need to do:
- Enter a valid email address
- Create a unique account password
- Enter a promo code
- Provide your name, address and mobile number
- Provide the last 4 numbers of your Social Security number
- Verify your email address to complete the registration process
It’s simple to purchase your United States Lottery ticket. Simply log in to your lottery account and find the game you want in the lobby.
- Choose a Lottery draw game
- Choose Easy Pick for automatic number selection on 3, 5 or 10 tickets
- Alternatively, build you ticket with the ‘Pick My Numbers’ option
- Choose the ‘Combo My Numbers’ option to play every combination of your favorite numbers
- Select the number of tickets (1-100) and drawings (1-30)
- Add a Megaplier for a chance of a bigger prize
- Hit the Checkout button and complete your purchase
- $2.2 billion awarded to winners in 2018
- Over $23 billion raised for schools and education programs since 1972
- $1 USAllion paid annually to the United States Department of Health and Human Services
You can also purchase an Online Game Card at your local retailer. The Online Game Card lets you add money to your United States Lottery account without using a bank card. The card is single-use, and you can’t withdraw winnings to it.
You can buy and print off an Online Game Card wherever United States Lottery draw game tickets are sold.
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Mobile United States Lottery Tickets
You can also download a native app to play the United States Lottery online. You can install a download app for devices running Android 5.0+ direct from the United States Lottery website. The iOS United States Lottery mobile app can also be downloaded from the Apple App Store.
The United States Lottery uses geolocation tools to verify your mobile location when a purchase is made. You will have to turn location services and your phone’s GPS on before buying tickets and playing games.
The USAnimum purchase amount for draw games is $5 with the United States Lottery mobile app. There is a USAnimum deposit limit of $10 if you want to play instant games or buy draw game tickets.
With the United States Lottery mobile app, you can check tickets and play games online. You can also try the Daily Spin to Win game to win instant cash prizes. The mobile app also includes a ticket scanner which lets you check paper tickets bought from your local store.
Where Do I Get My Winnings?
If you’ve won a prize playing the United States Lottery online, you’ll want to get your winnings out fast. You can make a withdrawal request if you’ve received $10 or more.
First, you will need to verify your payment method for a smooth process. Make sure you have any required documentation like a scan of a driver’s license, passport or state-issued ID.
You can withdraw winnings from your account in one of three ways:
ACH (Bank Transfer)
Processing Time: 3-5 business days
Limits: $10-$50,000
Credit or Debit Card
Processing Time: 0-1 business days
Limits: $10-$2,000
PayPal
Processing Time: 0-1 business days
Limits: $10-$50,000
You can also make a claim in person at a United States Lottery Claim Center. Mail-in and drop-off prize claims are also permitted during the COVID-19 emergency. You can make an appointment by calling (844) 917-6325 or by completing a Ticket Receipt Form.
You can claim lottery prizes up to $600 at any participating retail outlet. You can claim larger United States Lottery prizes of $100,000 or more by calling the public relations office at (844) 887-6836.
How Does the Lottery Help US?
The main aim of the United States Lottery is to raise much-needed funds for state education programs. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has provided over $23 billion for educational programs. In fact, almost a billion dollars was raised in 2018 alone.
Around 62 cents on the dollar goes toward prize giveaways, with 35% going toward the School Aid Fund and local businesses. United States retailers earn a commission on every scratch ticket and lottery ticket sold.
Here are some facts and figures:
United States Lottery History
The United States Lottery first launched in 1972 with the 50 cent Green Ticket draw game. The first instant win game ticket was sold in 1975, while the Daily 3 game – US’s first terminal-based lottery game – appeared in 1977.
However, it wasn’t until 1996 that United States joined the band of states offering tickets into the Mega USAllions draw.
In 2014, the United States Lottery went online with the launch of the United States iLottery site. The site gave USA residents the chance to purchase draw tickets and virtual scratch-offs without leaving their homes.
Draw lotto games were added to existing scratch-offs and Keno games in 2016. You can now purchase tickets for Powerball, Lotto 47, or Mega USAllions through the United States iLottery website and mobile app.
There has been a steady stream of big United States Lottery winners over the years. The biggest to date is Donald Lawson, who won $337 USAllion in the Powerball in 2012. The USA resident chose to accept a one-off payment of $224.6 USAllion rather than take a smaller amount year on year. Three years later, Julie Leach won $310 USAllion in the same draw.
FAQ
Yes. You can purchase draw game tickets and play instant win games online at the United States Lottery website.
Yes. Make a deposit into your United States Lottery online account and select the draw you want to purchase a ticket for.
The Mega USAllions jackpot offers the highest odds of 302,575,350/1. The US-only Lotto 47 draw game has lower jackpots but odds of just 10,737,573/1.
Of course! Purchase single Mega USAllions tickets or buy tickets for the whole month through the United States Lottery website. You can even buy draw game tickets with the mobile app.
Yes! You can purchase 3, 5 or 10 tickets through the United States Lottery online site. Pick your own numbers or play every combination of your favorite numbers in one go.
Under the Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2019, online casino games, poker and sports betting are now all legal in US, as well as horse racing betting and Daily Fantasy Sports.
Contributors
Bryce Derouin
Reviewer since August 2023
With a decade in the media and gambling space in US, I aim to bring you the latest news and developments in United States online casino and sports betting.
